Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media contact: Stephen Mikkelson, 218-316-3887 Brainerd, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a proposed expansion of the city of Princeton's wastewater-treatment facility. Citizens are invited to comment on this EAW until July 29, 2009. The city is proposing to expand its existing wastewater-treatment facility and add a discharge pipe to discharge treated wastewater to the Rum River. The existing facility is a mechanical treatment plant, designed for an average of 635,000 gallons of domestic wastewater per day. The proposed expansion includes constructing additional treatment units, including effluent filtration, that would enable the plant to treat an average of about 1.9 million gallons per day. The EAW is a preliminary environmental review looking at how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment. Comments on the EAW must be submitted in writing by 4:30 p.m. on July 29 to Nancy Drach, MPCA, Environmental Review, 520 Lafayette Road N., Saint Paul, MN 55155-4194; by e-mail to nancy.drach@state.mn.us; or by fax to 651-297-8683. The MPCA will use the comments on the EAW to evaluate the potential for significant environmental effects from the project and determine if an Environmental Impact Statement (a more comprehensive environmental review) is needed. Copies of the EAW are available for review at the MPCA St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Rd. N., or on the MPCA Web site at hhref="/news/eaw/index/html.